THE meteoric success of Pewsey Vale's Wigglybus has hit a major snag, with the number of users down by 20 per cent in the last two months because of problems with software and other technology.

A meeting at Pewsey's Bouverie Hall on Tuesday night was told passengers have been left standing in the street after the bus failed to turn up at the right time, and those phoning the new call centre in Gloucester have been kept waiting for a long time.

John Brewin, the chairman of the advisory group which is overseeing the running of the innovative bus service, said the problems went back to the start of the project. It had been anticipated the Wiltshire Ambulance Service would use its Chippenham call centre, and its own personnel and equipment to connect users to drivers.

But at the last minute the service had to pull out after it was told it could not deviate from its NHS function. The Wigglybus organisers had to search for other software and employ temporary staff to get the service off the ground.

But earlier this year the software, which had proved unreliable, failed completely and it was felt Message Link in Gloucester was the best option. Software was supplied on a trial basis by an international expert in demand-responsive bus services like the Wiggly bus. But it was not an unqualified success.

Project co-ordinator Keith Buchan said a review of the system is now to be carried out to identify the problems and see if they can be solved.

Anthony Bryant from Pewsey said at the meeting he had booked the bus to take his daughter to a party in Urchfont, and, despite checking several times that the booking was all right, the bus failed to turn up at the designated place.

Philip Hiscock, organiser of the Gateway Club for people with learning disabilities, said he had had problems getting through to the new call centre.

Kevin Jones, managing director of Message Link, said most of the problems experienced by the Wigglybus were connected with the software.

An application has been made to the Government for further funding when the service's three-year pilot project ends in March.